Ear pain during a flight? Learn tips for a comfortable takeoff and landing
🕗 3 minutes | September 9, 2025 | Material prepared by the portal: Politykazdrowotna.com
For many people, flying is an exciting experience, but for some, especially during takeoff and landing, there can occur a less pleasant part: severe ear pain or blocked sinuses. Why does ear pressure affect travel comfort? We talked to Wojciech Feleszko, habilitated doctor of medical sciences, a pediatrician and respiratory specialist, about how to keep your ears and sinuses comfortable during flights.
Summary for busy people
Ear pain during air travel is caused by changes in air pressure that impact the eardrum, especially during takeoff and landing. People with respiratory infections, those who have undergone ear or sinus surgery, and young children are most at risk. To alleviate discomfort, it is recommended to yawn, chew gum, drink water, and, in the case of small children, suck on a pacifier or bottle. Special earplugs and short-term use of nasal sprays may also help. In the case of serious infections, such as acute otitis media, flying is not recommended.
Where does ear discomfort during a flight come from? Causes of ear pain and risk factors
Although airplane cabins are hermetically sealed and partially equalize air pressure, changes in altitude—especially between ground level and approximately 3,000 meters—have a direct impact on our ears.
“This causes a pressure difference that affects the eardrum,” explains Dr. Feleszko, a specialist in hearing problems. “For healthy people, this is usually a temporary inconvenience, but people with diseases of the ear canal or sinuses, or those who have undergone surgery in these areas, may experience more severe pain or even complications related to pressure in the ear.”
Complications may include barotrauma, exudative otitis media, or exacerbation of sinusitis. If you are under medical supervision and follow your doctor's recommendations, there is nothing to worry about. For healthy individuals, pressure changes in an airplane cabin are not dangerous.
Who is most at risk to experience blocked ears after flying?
Not every passenger experiences the same symptoms. People who are at greater risk include those who:
- suffer from upper respiratory tract infections,
- have had sinus or ear surgery,
- children, especially infants,
- people with chronic otitis media.
The problem in children stems from the fact that they have a much narrower Eustachian tube, which easily becomes swollen, especially during infections.
“Infants and young children are more prone to infections and ear congestion,” says the expert. “This makes them more susceptible to ailments related to pressure changes.”
How can you help yourself (and your child) during takeoff and landing?
There are simple and effective ways to fly safely and alleviate or completely avoid ear issues that may be related to ear pressure. And while some may seem trivial, they work. It is best to start using them at the beginning of takeoff or landing and continue throughout the flight.
“It is important to use such preparations for a short period of time—only when there is a possibility of risk and after consulting a doctor,” adds Dr. Feleszko.
For adults and older children:
- Yawning, chewing gum, and sucking on candy—these are the simplest methods to help equalize pressure.
- Drinking water in small sips—this is particularly helpful during landing.
- The Valsalva maneuver—this involves blocking your nose and trying to “blow” air out with
- your mouth closed. This technique is well known to scuba divers.
For the youngest:
- Sucking on a pacifier, drinking milk from a bottle, or breastfeeding—these activities activate the throat muscles and help equalize pressure.
- Applying a nasal spray (e.g., with oxymetazoline or xylometazoline) before the flight—this shrinks the mucous membrane and prevents the Eustachian tube from becoming blocked.
Can earplugs help during a flight?
Yes, earplugs can be useful during flights for people who have problems with pressure—especially with ear barotrauma, which is ear pain caused by pressure changes during takeoff or landing. They slow down the change in pressure in the external auditory canal and give the Eustachian tube more time to equalize between the middle ear and the environment.
A 2004 study published in The Laryngoscope showed that people who used earplugs experienced significantly less pain during flight than those in the control group.
When is it better to skip flying? Middle ear infection — it's worth seeing a doctor about this
Flying may not be a good idea if you have a serious infection or have recently undergone surgery.
“If someone has a severe cold, acute otitis media, or has recently undergone sinus or ear surgery, flying may lead to complications,” warns the expert.
One of these complications may be barotrauma, which is a pressure injury to the ear. It rarely occurs, but it can result in, among other things, a rupture of the eardrum or fluid accumulation in the middle ear.
Scientifically proven knowledge — summary
Although some methods mentioned (such as chewing gum) may seem like “home remedies,” many of them have a solid scientific basis.
“It's not just practice,” emphasizes Dr. Feleszko. “Evidence-based medicine also confirms the effectiveness of measures such as the use of nasal sprays or techniques for equalizing pressure in the ear.”
Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) is an approach to treatment and medical care that involves making clinical decisions based on the best available scientific evidence from well-designed clinical trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews.